_Things I like

Things I like - Summer was great! I had a lot of fun outdoors with my
family and friends. I put together a list of my favorite outdoor
activities to do in the summer to stay busy and entertained all summer
long:

1. Swimming
Swimming can be fun at the pool or at the beach. Another option is to go
to a water park in your area. It is a great exercise for the whole body
and what a wonderful way to cool off in a hot summer day!

2. Snorkeling
Snorkeling makes swimming so much more exciting because you get to see
what is going on under water, turning it into a real adventure. You get
to watch brightly colored schools of fish passing by, waving plants,
coral and other inhabitants of the sea world. Snorkeling is cool and all
it requires is a mask, snorkel and fins.

3. Waterskiing
The sport of water skiing, riding on the skis along the water's surface
while being towed by a motorboat is a challenging and fun activity. You
have to be physically fit to do this one and it requires control and
balance in the water. It is exhilarating being out in the fresh air,
gliding on the water, feeling the wind and splashes. For this activity
you would need two people on the boat (driver and observer), skis, ski
rope and ski belt.

4. Sunbathing
What can be better than just lying on the warm sand and basking in
sunshine, completely relaxed and forgetting about a busy life for a
while. I try to sunbathe between 8 and 11 in the morning and between 4
and 7 o'clock in the evening to avoid the searing sun. When you start
getting sun-tanned it is better to limit sunbathing to 15 min and then
gradually increase the time as you get tanner. Try to avoid sunburn.

5. Fishing
Fishing is a good way to bond with nature (and get a dinner). You can
fish from a bank of a river or from a boat in the sea, whichever way you
prefer. Fishing rod and reel and the right lure are the main things you
need. You throw out a line and then sit back and relax. Some fish are
edible and some are sport fish. Big sport fish put up a lot of fight and
it is exciting when you finally bring fish into the boat.

6. Mushroom hunting
It is so exciting to find mushrooms in the forest. You collect them by
cutting them and putting them in a basket. It is important, however, to
follow the safety guidelines, because poisonous mushrooms are commonly
confused for edible ones. It is better to have an expert on mushrooms on
your mushroom hunting team to help you sort out good mushrooms from bad
ones. In my family it is my dad's responsibility to do the sorting. You
want to be careful to avoid mushroom poisoning which could lend you in
the hospital after eating mushrooms.

7. Gardening
You can surround yourself with colorful flowers that thrive in high
temperatures and grow vegetables and culinary herbs in summer.
Maintaining a healthy garden requires constant upkeep, too much water
can be as bad for plants as too little water. Daily monitoring will be
necessary for success. As the plants bring vegetables and flowers the
result is very rewarding and gardening becomes a pleasure.

8. Biking
Besides riding a bike for reasons like saving the money and reducing gas
emissions, biking is just fun. You can go at a comfortable speed for
you. It feels good to have the wind in your face. The ability to go
anywhere you want gives you a sense of freedom. It clears your mind and
energizes you. You see things from a different perspective (than when,
for instance you are walking or driving a car) and you discover things
you've never noticed before.

9. Playing badminton
I just love this game. It is great physical exercise. Smashing the
shuttlecock with a racquet and watching it go up in the air into your
partner's court is lots of fun. Sending a shuttlecock back and forth,
running to this side or that side while trying to hit it before the
shuttlecock hits the ground, can be quite challenging; especially if the
wind is blowing! Better to do it on a wind-free day.

10. Playing volleyball
What can be better than gathering a group of people to play volleyball?
You learn to work as a team and it is a great exercise. All you need is a
net and a beach ball. It is better to have plenty of drinking water to
stay hydrated. Another alternative is to play volleyball in a swimming
pool. You stay cool while playing the game.

Keep busy in the summer with these fun summer activities. These are not
only a great way to celebrate the summer season, but also a great way to
help beat summertime boredom!